THE DRIVE: Come look at intel material, White House tells House panel

Thursday

Mar 30, 2017 at 4:06 PMMar 30, 2017 at 4:06 PM

Democrats wary of role of WH in delivering classified materials, North Carolina to reach out to businesses now that HB2 is history, Kansas point guard is college basketball's player of the year, and more headlines for your drive home Thursday, March 30, 2017.

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The White House refused to say on Thursday whether it secretly fed intelligence reports to a top Republican investigating possible coordination between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign. Fending off growing criticism, the administration invited lawmakers from both parties to view classified material it said relates to surveillance of the president's associates.

The White House's invitation letter to lawmakers came amid a quickly rising storm over Rep. Devin Nunes, who heads the House intelligence committee. The New York Times reported that two White House officials — including an aide whose job was recently saved by President Donald Trump — secretly helped Nunes examine intelligence information last week.

COMPROMISED SIGNED, N.C. LOOKS TOWARD FUTURE

North Carolina's commerce secretary says he'll start calling companies that have avoided North Carolina now that the state has repealed its "bathroom bill."

Commerce Secretary Tony Copeland spoke Thursday as Gov. Roy Cooper signed the bill. The American Civil Liberties Union and gay and transgender activists have complained that the new law still denies them certain protections from discrimination.

KANSAS' MASON, GONZAGA'S FEW WIN NATIONAL AWARDS

GLENDALE, Arizona — Kansas guard Frank Mason III and Gonzaga coach Mark Few have won The Associated Press player and coach of the year awards, the news cooperative announced Thursday at the Final Four in Glendale, Arizona.

Mason led Kansas to its 13th consecutive Big 12 title. He received 37 votes Thursday from the same 65-member media panel that selects the weekly AP Top 25.

Few has taken the Zags to the NCAA Tournament in all 18 of his seasons there. He was a runaway winner Thursday receiving 31 votes from the panel.

PUTIN ON ELECTION HACKING: 'READ MY LIPS: NO'

MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin on Thursday emphatically denied allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election and said Moscow would maintain hopes of improving relations while waiting for political infighting in Washington to stop.

Pressed about the allegations during a forum by CNBC's Geoff Cutmore, who hosted the discussion, Putin answered by quoting former President George H.W. Bush.

Putin said: "Read my lips: No."

COMING SOON TO MCDONALD'S: FRESH BEEF

Fast food giant McDonald's said Thursday that it will swap frozen beef patties for fresh ones in its Quarter Pounder burgers by sometime next year at most of its U.S. locations. Employees will cook up the never-frozen beef on a grill when burgers are ordered.

Fresh beef has been the biggest selling point at rival Wendy's. Yet there are larger forces at work that have prompted other menu changes at McDonald's, known for decades more for the billions of people served than its culinary choices. The world's largest hamburger chain has been trying to improve its image as more people shun processed foods. Last year, it removed artificial preservatives from chicken McNuggets and cut out high-fructose corn syrup from its buns.